Category Archives: STNT

Floor vs. Ground

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Don’t Say
– (In your kitchen) I dropped a glass on the ground.
– (In your son’s bedroom) Please pick up all your dirty clothes from the ground.
– (In a parking lot) I found $20 on the floor.
– (At a park) I’m throwing bread on the floor for the birds.

Say This:
– (In your kitchen) I dropped a glass on the floor.
– (In your son’s bedroom) Please pick up all your dirty clothes from the floor.
– (In a parking lot) I found $20 on the ground.
– (At a park) I’m throwing bread on the ground for the birds.

Remember:

  • Inside – Use floor  
  • Outside – Use ground  
  • but… what is a “ground floor”??
    • The ground floor of a tall building is usually the same as the ‘first floor’ – at the ground level.

“She’s” Means “She Is” or “She Has”

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Don’t Say
– She’s can work tomorrow.  (She is can work tomorrow.)
– He’s can’t eat fish. (He is can’t eat fish.)
– She’s can’t come on Tuesday.
– He’s can swim fast.

Say This:
– She can work tomorrow.
– He can’t eat fish.
– She can’t come on Tuesday.
– He can swim fast.

Remember:

  • She’s is a contraction of she+is, and sometimes, of she+has
    • She’s hungry. (She is hungry.)
    • She’s got to go home. (She has got to go home.)
  • He’s is a contraction of he+is, and sometimes, of he+has
  • Don’t use she’s or he’s in any other situations.
    • NO
      • She’s like to dance. (She likes to dance.)
      • He’s go to school every Friday. (He goes to school every Friday.)
    • YES
      • He’s very happy today. (He is very happy today.)
      • She’s sleeping now. (She is sleeping now.)

Short Answers for “Does she have…?”

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Question: Does she have a car?

Don’t Say
– Yes, she has. (or Yes, she have.)
– No, she has not. (or No, she haven’t)

Say This:
– Yes, she does.
– No, she doesn’t.

Remember:

  • If the QUESTION begins with “Does”, ANSWER with the verb “does”.
  • Does is used with he, she, or it.
  • Does he have a headache? — Yes, he does. (No, he doesn’t.)
  • Does she have a problem? — Yes, she does.  (or No, she doesn’t.)
  • Does your computer have a camera? — Yes, it does. (No, it doesn’t)
  • Does she have…. any children? many friends? a good job?

Short Answers for “Do you have…?”

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Question: Do you have a brother?

Don’t Say
– Yes, I have.
– No, I have not.

Say This:
– Yes, I do.
– No, I don’t.

Remember:

  • If the QUESTION begins with “Do”, ANSWER with the verb “do”.
  • Do you have a brother?  — Yes, I do. (No, I don’t)
  • Do you have a job? — Yes, I do. (No, I don’t)
  • Do you have…. any ideas? any plans for the weekend?  any questions?

— Thanks to Jen for this article —

I’LL See You Tomorrow

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Don’t say: 
– I see you tomorrow.
– I go with you now.
– I do my homework next weekend.
– I tell you when she comes home.
– I call you Monday.

Say this:
– I’ll see you tomorrow.    (I will see you tomorrow)
– I’ll go with you now.
– I’ll do my homework next weekend.
– I’ll tell you when she comes home.
– I’ll call you Monday.

Remember:

  • Use I’ll as the shortened form of I will when talking about something you will do.
  • I’ll = I + will 
  • Be sure to pronounce the whole word, not just the I
  • Listen to a lot more people pronounce I’ll on YouGlish

Something Happening Now

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Don’t say: 
– Look! The baby walking!
– Where is your sister?  She’s work in Boston today.
– What are your kids doing right now?  They playing soccer at the school.
– Sorry, I can’t go to lunch with you.  I eat a sandwich right now.

Say this:
– Look! The baby is walking!
– Where is your sister?  She’s working in Boston today. (or She is working)
– What are your kids doing right now?  They’re playing soccer at the school. (or They are playing)
– Sorry, I can’t go to lunch with you.  I’m eating a sandwich right now. (or I am eating)

Remember:

  • When you talk about something happening NOW, for most verbs, you use this form:
    Verb to-be (am, are, is) + verb + ing

    • He is cooking.
    • I am making the bed.
    • The doctor is flying to California.
    • Everyone in class is reading.
  • This verb tense is called “present continuous”, or “present progressive”.

What Does This Mean?

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Don’t say: 
– What it means?
– What this means?
– What means this?
– What means [xx]? (such as What means hyperbole? or What means doodle?)

Say this:
– What does it mean?
– What does this mean?
– What does [xx] mean?  such as…
– What does hyperbole mean?
– What does doodle mean?

Remember:

  • When you don’t understand what something means and you want to ask someone about it, start your question with What does...
  • What does this emoji mean?  
  • What does sibling mean?

Don’t and Doesn’t

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Don’t say: 
– He don’t like pizza.
– She don’t want to go.
– It don’t work.
– Maria don’t understand.

Say this:
– He doesn’t like pizza.
– She doesn’t want to go.
– It doesn’t work.
– Maria doesn’t understand.

Remember:

  • I don’t; You don’t; We don’t; They don’t
  • He doesn’t; She doesn’t; It doesn’t
  •  Don’t = do not
  •  Doesn’t = does not

– Victor doesn’t know how to dance.
– My dog doesn’t feel well.